| Rafael Flores | |
|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Pirates – No. 43 | |
| Catcher / First baseman | |
| Born: November 7, 2000 Anaheim, California, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 17, 2025, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Batting average | .200 |
| Home runs | 0 |
| Runs batted in | 0 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| |
Rafael Flores Jr. (born November 7, 2000) is an American professional baseball catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2025.
Career
editNew York Yankees
editFlores attended Katella High School in Anaheim, California, and Rio Hondo College.[1] He went unselected in the 2022 MLB draft. While he played collegiate summer baseball for the Alaska Goldpanners, the New York Yankees signed Flores to a professional contract in July 2022.[2]
After signing, Flores appeared in four games for the FCL Yankees in the 2022 season. He played for the Hudson Valley Renegades in 2023[3] and for Hudson Valley and the Somerset Patriots in 2024.[1] Baseball America named Flores the Yankees' Minor League Player of the Year for 2024.[4]
Pittsburgh Pirates
editOn July 31, 2025, the Yankees traded Flores, Edgleen Perez, and Brian Sanchez to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for David Bednar.[5] In 36 appearances for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, he batted .281/.363/.459 with six home runs and 28 runs batted in (RBI).[6] On September 16, Flores was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[7] He made his major league debut the following day, recording his first hit.[8] Flores made seven total appearances for Pittsburgh, going 3-for-15 (.200) with two walks.
Flores was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis to begin the 2026 season.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b Johnson, Greg (2024-07-05). "From JUCO to the pros: Rafael Flores making early impression in Yankees organization". Trentonian. Retrieved 2025-12-26.
- ^ Olsen, Jeff (July 22, 2022). "Goldpanners' Rafael Flores to sign with Yankees organization". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.
- ^ "Robo Flo: Rafael Flores forged new path in first full pro season". Minor League Baseball.
- ^ Haynes, Stephen. "Six current and former Renegades players, and a coach, tabbed for Arizona Fall League". Poughkeepsie Journal.
- ^ Hoch, Bryan (July 31, 2025). "Yanks overhaul 'pen with Bednar, Doval and Bird trades". mlb.com. MLB.com. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
- ^ McDonald, Darragh (September 16, 2025). "Pirates Select Rafael Flores". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
- ^ https://triblive.com/sports/pirates-select-contract-of-c-1b-rafael-flores-acquired-from-yankees-in-david-bednar-trade/
- ^ https://triblive.com/sports/pirates-rafael-flores-gives-glimpse-of-hard-hitting-future-on-1st-major-league-hit/
- ^ "Pirates Make Big List of Spring Training Roster Cuts". si.com. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
External links
edit- Career statistics from MLB · ESPN · Baseball Reference · Fangraphs · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet
